Aquaculture Technician Diploma

Advance your aquaculture career and expand your skills. This industry-informed training includes equipment and facility maintenance, grow-out and hatchery production and a directed research project. You’ll be prepared to work as an aquaculture technician, site worker, hatchery or site manager, fisheries researcher or environmental monitor.

According to the United Nations, aquaculture - the culture of algae (seaweed and phytoplankton), shellfish, and finfish - is now the fastest growing food production industry in the world. NIC is excited to be developing more training opportunities for those interested in getting into the field.

Admission Requirements

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

NIC’s Aquaculture Technician diploma provides you with advanced knowledge and skills to support aquatic food production. This includes ecological interactions between aquaculture and the environment from local to ecosystem scales, the operation and maintenance of aquaculture facilities and equipment, and finfish hatchery and grow-out production.

You will also develop skills in business communication, technical writing, project management and creative problem solving.

You will also complete a directed research or applied aquaculture project. Directed research will focus on improving specific issues. The research project will include a project proposal, review of literature and recommendations. In the applied project, you will design and complete a project aimed at improving and/or supporting current industry practices.

Skills and knowledge developed through the program include:

History and current status of aquaculture

Government regulations and Acts regarding fisheries and aquaculture practices

Environmental impact of aquaculture, understanding and monitoring aquatic ecosystem, and best aquaculture practices

Biology of Atlantic and Pacific salmonid species including biodiversity, geographic distribution, taxonomy, anatomy, reproductive physiology, osmoregulation and smoltification, life history, ecology, and genetics

Salmonid husbandry techniques and principles including feeding and nutrition, fish health and biosecurity, biotechnology advancements to aid production, and all aspects related to growing the best possible fish from smolt to marketable size

Salmonid hatchery production techniques and principles to maximize survival and growth during the early life stages, including broodstock development and management, egg/alevin/parr/smolt development and culture, vaccination and sea site transfer